DEMING, N.M. (AP) - The Deming Police Department’s SWAT team has new wheels, courtesy of Uncle Sam.
The Deming Headlight (https://bit.ly/1sh2HLK ) reports that the department last month sent two employees to Texas to pick up a large armored personnel carrier declared surplus by the military.
Police Chief Brandon Gigante says a vehicle like that could cost more than $700,000 to purchase but the department got it for free, along with extra tires and wheels.
The carrier can hold up to 12 SWAT team members. It replaces a van that could carry only six SWAT team members.
The new vehicle can be used for barricade hostage situations or in situations such as floods and fires.
Gigante says Deming will share the vehicle with other first-responder agencies in the area.
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